Calibrachoa plant named ‘Wescafire’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Calibrachoa  plant named ‘Wescafire’, characterized by its upright to cascading and vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance; relatively large leaves; medium-sized flowers; and numerous yellow to red purple-colored flowers.

Botanical designation: Calibrachoa sp.

Cultivar denomination: ‘Wescafire’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant, botanically known as Calibrachoa sp., and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Wescafire’.

The new Calibrachoa is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Südlohn, Germany. The objective of the breeding program is to develop new vigorous Calibrachoa cultivars with attractive and unique flower coloration.

The new Calibrachoa originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in 2001 of a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa identified as code number 01P407, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Calibrachoa identified as code number 01P107, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Calibrachoa was discovered and selected by the Inventor in a controlled environment in Südlohn, Germany as a single plant within the resulting progeny from the cross-pollination.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal cuttings at Südlohn, Germany since 2002, has shown that the unique features of this new Calibrachoa are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the cultivar Wescafire have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in environment such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Wescafire’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Wescafire’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa:

-   -   1. Upright to cascading and vigorous growth habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit; dense and bushy appearance.     -   3. Relatively large leaves.     -   4. Medium-sized flowers.     -   5. Numerous yellow to red purple-colored flowers.

Plants of the cultivar Wescafire can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Südlohn, Germany, plants of the new Calibrachoa differed from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa were more upright and vigorous         than plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the female parent selection         differed in flower color as plants of the female parent         selection had yellow-colored flowers.

Plants of the cultivar Wescafire can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Südlohn, Germany, plants of the new Calibrachoa differed from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had smaller leaves than plants         of the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had smaller flowers than plants         of the male parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the male parent selection         differed in flower color.

Plants of the new Calibrachoa can also be compared to plants of the Calibrachoa cultivar Wescaora, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 14,822. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Südlohn, Germany, plants of the new Calibrachoa differed from plants of the cultivar Wescaora in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had stronger lateral branches         than plants of the cultivar Wescaora.     -   2. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had longer internodes than         plants of the cultivar Wescaora.     -   3. Plants of the new Calibrachoa had larger leaves than plants         of the cultivar Wescaora.     -   4. Plants of the new Calibrachoa and the cultivar Wescaora         differed in flower color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Calibrachoa.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of typical flowering plants of ‘Wescafire’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of typical flowers of ‘Wescafire’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

Plants used in the aforementioned photographs and for the following description were grown under conditions which closely approximate commercial production conditions during the spring and summer in a glass-covered greenhouse in Südlohn, Germany. Plants were about 20 weeks from planting rooted cuttings and grown in containers. During the production of the plants, the day temperatures ranged from 20° C. to 25° C., night temperatures ranged from 16° C. to 18° C. and light levels ranged from 3,000 to 50,000 lux.

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Calibrachoa sp. cultivar Wescafire. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp.             identified as 01P407, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary selection of Calibrachoa sp.             identified as 01P107, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal vegetative cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 18 to 20 days at 20° C.         -   Time to develop roots.—About 20 to 28 days at 20° C.         -   Root description.—Numerous, fine, fibrous, and             well-branched. -   Plant description:     -   -   Form.—Annual flowering plant; upright to cascading; uniform,             rounded appearance, plants eventually become spherical in             overall shape. Freely branching wiht lateral branches             forming at every node. Vigorous growth habit.         -   Usage.—Appropriate for hanging baskets, window boxes and             patio containers.         -   Plant height (from soil level to top of plant plane).—About             18.5 cm.         -   Plant length (from soil level to lateral branches             apices).—About 80 cm to 90 cm.         -   Stem description.—Main branches, length: About 80 cm. Main             branches, diameter: About 3.2 mm. Lateral branches, length:             About 45 cm. Lateral branches, diameter: About 1.8 mm.             Internode length: About 2.2 cm. Texture: Pubescent.             Strength: Strong, wiry. Color: 144A.         -   Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate; simple. Length:             About 3.75 cm. Width: About 1.1 cm. Shape: Oblanceolate.             Apex: Obtuse. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire. Aspect:             Mostly flat. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent;             slightly leathery. Venation: Pinnate. Color: Developing             foliage, upper surface: 146A. Developing foliage, lower             surface: 146B. Fully expanded foliage, upper surface: 147A;             midvein, 147B; lateral veins, similar to lamina. Fully             expanded foliage, lower surface: 147B; midvein, 147C;             lateral veins, similar to lamina. Petiole length: About             5 mm. Petiole diameter: About 1.3 mm. Petiole texture, upper             and lower surface: Smooth, glabrous. Petiole color: 138B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Medium-sized flowers; flowers face             upright or outward; single, axillary. Flowers not             persistent. Freely flowering with flowers forming at every             axil.         -   Natural flowering season.—Spring until frost in the autumn;             flowering continuous.         -   Flower longevity on the plant.—About one week.         -   Flower size.—Diameter: About 2.9 cm. Depth (height): About             2 cm. Tube length: About 1.4 cm. Throat diameter, distal             end: About 8 mm. Tube diameter, proximal end: About 3 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Shape: Oblong. Color: Towards the base, 10B, venation, N77A;             towards the apex, 35C to 35D, 10B or N79D.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement/appearance: Single whorl of five             petals, fused into flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:             About 1.2 cm. Petal width: About 1.4 cm. Petal shape:             Roughly spatulate with an obtuse apex. Petal margin: Entire.             Petal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous;             satiny. Color: Petal, when opening, upper surface: 9A; or             21A splashed with 61B; or 61A to 61B. Petal, when opening,             lower surface: 9D, or 61B to 61D. Petal, fully opened, upper             surface: 15A to 15B; or 21B; or 21A to 21B splashed with 61B             to 61C; venation, 61B. Petal, fully opened, lower surface:             9D splashed with 63C; or 63B to 64D; venation, N77A. Flower             throat (inside): 14A; venation, N77A. Flower tube (outside):             10C; venation, N77A.         -   Sepals.—Arrangement/appearance: Single whorl of five sepals,             star-shaped. Length: About 1.4 cm. Width: About 2.7 mm.             Shape: Lanceolate. Apex: Acute. Margin: Entire. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: 146B.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.9 cm. Width: About 0.9 mm.             Strength: Flexible, wiry. Texture: Slightly pubescent.             Color: 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five.             Anther shape: Four-parted, ovate. Anther length: About             1.2 mm. Anther diameter: About 1.2 mm. Filament length:             About 4 to 7 mm. Filament color: 145C. Anther color: 12C.             Pollen amount: Scarce. Pollen color: 10B. Pistils: Quantity             per flower: One. Pistil length: About 1 cm. Stigma shape:             Ovate. Stigma color: 144A to 144B. Style length: About 8 mm.             Style color: 144C. Ovary color: 144B to 144C.         -   Seeed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been             observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have not been     noted to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Calibrachoa. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Calibrachoa have been     observed to be tolerant to temperatures ranging from 2° C. to 30° C. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Calibrachoa plant named ‘Wescafire’, as illustrated and described. 